Device for measuring the level of a molten metal bath



F. A. HUESER 2 mm MEASURING THE LEVEL OF A MOI-TEN METAL BATH DEVICE FORFiled Feb. 1'7, 1945 m n amaze.

Amwm' Patented July 15, 1947 2,423,88&

.DEVICE FOR MEASURINGTHE LEVEL @F A MOLTEN IMETAL BATH Frank A. Hueser,La Grange, 111., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York Appiication February 17, 1945,Serial No.'5i3,389

' 4 Claims. i

This invention relates to measuring devices and particularly to .suchdevices for use ingaging the level of a liquid bath.

The invention is particularly useful in taking inventory of moltenmetal, for example, in checking the level of a molten metal bath, suchas zinc and lead, contained in a, pot with or without a layer of fluxcovering it with an equal degree of accuracy. In some installations, thepot may contain seven tons or more of molten metal and a smalldifference in the measurement of the level of the surface of the metalinvolves a large amount of metal and thus an inaccurate inventory ofmetal on hand.

An object of this invention is the provision of a simple and practicalmeasuring device for efficiently and accurately gaging the level of a,liquid bath.

In accordance with the above object, the present invention, in oneembodiment thereof, comprises a base having a plurality of dependinglocating pins arranged to rest on a predetermined horizontal surface ofthe structure supporting the pot or container holding the bath of moltenmetal. Extending downwardly from thebase and spaced Referring to thedrawing in detail, wherein one embodiment of the invention, as used inmeasur ing the level of a molten bath of zinc and lead, is illustrated,the numeral iii indicates a melting container or pet for a bath of zincand lead ii, having its top surface or level indicated at it and a usuallayer of flux l3 covering it. The pot ill is supported by a, flange itthereof, being welded or otherwise attached to an annular plate H, inturn mounted on a wall structure it surrounding, in spaced relation, theouter peripheral surface of the pot. Suitable heating means (not shown)is provided for keeping the bath H molten at a suitable temperature. Amore complete description and illustration of the structure for holdingthe molten bath of zinc and lead H, which is shown fragmentarily, is notbelieved necessary to a complete understanding of the measfrom the innerperipheral wall of the pot is a guide arm having its lower horizontalsurface, which is positioned above the level of the bath, constituting agaging point. Threaded through a guide aperture formed in the guide armand extending from a coiled supply mounted .on the base and for such adistance beyond the gaging point as to extend for a suitable distanceinto the molten metal bath is an alloywire having a melting point belowthe temperature of the bath to be checked. Thus, when the gaging deviceis mounted in position upon the pot, the portion of the alloy wireextending into the bath below the level thereof melts away and theremainder of the alloy wire extending beyond the gaging point of theguide arm is then measured and from this measurement the level of thebath and finally the volume of molten metal contained in the pot may bereadily determined.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appearfrom the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of ameasuring device embodying the features of this invention for gaging thelevel of a bath of molten metal contained in a melting pot, the meltingpot being shown fragmentarily, and I Fig. 2 is an irregular verticalsection taken on the line 2-2 of Fig, 1.

urlng device of this invention, indicated in general at 19.

The device It comprises, as shown in. Fig. 1, a segment-like shaped basemember 20, having its narrow end terminating in a downwardly extendingarcuate shaped arm 2i (Fig. 2) of substantially circular cross-sectionat its extremity, its lower annular horizontal end face 25 serving as anestablished gaging surface or point, which will be referred tohereinafter. An aperture 25 is provided in the arm 2 i through which isthreaded the outer end of an alloy wire 26 coiled on a supply spool 21journalied at 23 upon the upper surface of the base member 28. The alloywire 26 is of a type which has a melting point below the temperature ofthe molten bath ii, the level i2 01 which is to be gaged, so that whenentered below the bath level, it will melt away at the surface or levelof the bath. For gaging a zinc bath, an alloy wire of tin and lead, suchas solder wire, may be used. Depending from the lower surface of thebase member 2d are three locating feet or pins 3 I, which may be of thevertically adjustable type, if desired. The pins 3| engage and rest uponthe upper surface of the pot supporting annular plate I! when the deviceis being used and thus predeterminedly locate the gaging point 24 on thewire guide relative to the pot and always above the bath level I I. Ahandle 32 is attached to the upper surface of the base member EU tofacilitate the handling of the device in its use.

In using the measuring device l9 abovedescribed, the alloy wire 26 isfed beyond the gaging point 24 for such a length that when the device ispredeterminedly located relative to the pot I0 and resting on the platell, the end of the minim wire will extend below the bath level (2 for ahie d lance. Thus, the alloy wire 26, havlneltii point below thetemperature of the t bath ii, the level l2 of which is being is meltedaway solely below the surface or 1 inc h, leaving a length of wireextend- :ud the gaging point which length will p iding on the level ofthe bath. No be on the gaging of the bath level l2 results Iroin thelayer of flux [3 on the bath H as the alloy wire melts away in line withthe surface of the molten metal. The length of the alloy wire Iextending beyond the gaging point 24 and to a bath level iii is nowmeasured and, with this urernent known accurately, the volume of anmetal contained in the pot ill may be determined by referring to a tablewhich indicates the contents of the particular pot 60 W1 ious levels ofmolten metal.

c aimed is: me for measuring the level of a molten h in a pot comprisinga base predelocated relative to a surface of the said base providingouter end surface above the g "lBIlllEllt having a il'lll'C of the bathl *nding from said gaginto the bath, whereupon the porbclow said levelmelts away, the d element extending beyond said point being used indetermining the voll in the pot. de ice for measuring the level of amolten El: in a pot comprising a base predeter- 1 located relative to asurface of the pot, means extending from said base g gaging point at itsouter end above the level of the bath, and a supply alloy wire having amelting point below the olnperature of the bath carried by said basewith. no end threaded through said guide means, eX- iding from saidgaging point and into the bath, reopen the portion thereof below saidlevel away, the length of said wire extending ond said gaging pointbeing used in deteri the eilume of metal in the pot.

3. A device for measuring the level of a molten metal bath in a potcomprising a base, a plurality of supporting pins depending therefromfor predeterminedly locating and supporting the base in a horizontalplane above a surface of the pot, apertured guide means extending fromsaid base and providing a gaging point at its outer end surface abovethe level of the bath, and a supply of alloy wire having a melting pointbelow the temperature of the bath carried on said base with its outerend threaded through said guide means, extending from said gaging pointand into the bath, whereupon the portion thereof below said level meltsaway, the length of said wire extending beyond said gaging point beingused in determining the volume of metal in the pot.

4. A device for measuring the level of a molten metal bath in a potcomprising a base, a plurality of supporting pins depending therefromfor predeterminedly locating and supporting the base in a horizontalplane above a surface of the pot, an arcuate shaped apertured guidemeans extending downwardly from said base and providing a gaging pointat its outer end surface above the level of the bath, and a rotatablymounted coiled supply of alloy wire having a melting point below thetemperature of the bath journalled on said base with its outer endthreaded through said guide means, extending from said gaging point andinto the bath, whereupon the portion thereof below said level meltsaway, the length of said wire extending beyond said gaging point beingused in determining the volume of metal in the pot.

FRANK A. HUESER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,501,407 Le Clair July 15, 19241,570,790 Smith Jan. 26, 1926 2,200,630 McCabe May 14, 1940

